Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in Aboriginal Australians. Screening for cardiovascular disease risk factors, notably elevated blood lipids, is urgently needed. The small portable Cholestech machine (Point-of-Care Diagnostics) can enzymatically measure total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol (without the prior need for precipitation of other lipoproteins)on 35 microlitres of capillary or veinous whole blood in under 5 minutes. It also calculates LDL cholesterol. Its suitability for use in Aboriginal communities was assessed. With its simple operation, fully automated nature, sound analytic performance and ability to produce a full lipid profile in under 5 minutes, the Cholestech would be suitable for the Aboriginal health care setting.